Cocoa Toast Bread Pudding Food

FRENCH TOAST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Arrange the bread in two layers in a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking dish, cutting the bread to fit the dish. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, honey, orange zest, vanilla, and salt. Pour the mixture over the bread and press the bread down. Allow to soak for 10 minutes.
• Place the baking dish in a larger roasting pan and add enough very hot tap water to the roasting pan to come an inch up the side of the baking dish. Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil, tenting it so the foil doesn't touch the pudding. Make two slashes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 45 minutes, remove the aluminum foil, and bake for another 40 to 45 minutes, until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
• With a small sieve, dust lightly with confectioners' sugar and serve hot in squares with maple syrup on the side.

BANANAS FOSTER BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• For the bread and syrup: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Toast the bread cubes on a baking sheet until they start to dry and harden, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
• Raise the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter.
• Meanwhile, to make the syrup, add the butter, brown sugar, heavy cream, rum, vanilla and cinnamon to a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the butter is melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the mixture is thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
• For the custard: Whisk together the heavy cream, milk, brown sugar, granulated sugar, rum, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, whole eggs and yolks in a large bowl. Add the bread, pecans and half of the syrup and stir until completely coated (reserve the other half of the syrup for later). Cover and let soak for about 30 minutes, pushing the bread down occasionally so that all the cubes are soaked.
• Thinly slice 4 of the bananas and fold into the bread mixture. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake until the custard is set and the top is golden brown, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes in the pan.
• Thinly slice the remaining banana and scatter on top of the bread. Drizzle with the reserved syrup. Serve warm, at room temperature or cold with ice cream, if desired.

CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread in a round, buttered, deep dish pie plate. In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, a dash of salt, vanilla, cocoa, and cinnamon . Add chocolate chips. Pour over bread and gently mix. Let sit for 15 minutes, so bread can absorb mixture. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until firm but not dry.

CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate; stir until smooth. Stir in cream; set aside. , In a large bowl, whisk sugar, milk, egg, vanilla and salt. Stir in chocolate mixture. Add bread cubes and toss to coat. Let stand for 15 minutes. , Spoon into 2 greased 2-cup souffle dishes. Bake at 350° until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. , If desired, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and top with a dollop of whipped cream.

HOT CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk the half-and-half, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, hot chocolate mix, whole eggs and egg yolks. Stir in the bread cubes until evenly coated. Stir in the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake until golden brown, 55 minutes to 1 hour. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. Serve dusted with confectioners' sugar and a dollop of whipped cream.

OLD-FASHIONED COCOA PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa, flour and salt. Gradually whisk in water and egg yolks. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened., Remove from the heat; stir in butter and vanilla until blended. Pour into individual dishes. Refrigerate until set. Garnish with whipped topping and chocolate curls.